Documents Required to Open a UK Business Account as a Non-Resident

You have registered a UK limited company. You have a Companies House number. Now you need a business account — and you are based in Germany, the UAE, Singapore, or anywhere else outside the United Kingdom.

This is where most international founders hit a wall. If you are still researching whether you can  open a UK business account without UK residency, the short answer is yes — but the practical question most founders face next is: what exactly do you need to prove it? That is what this guide answers.

The barrier is not legal. There is no law preventing non-residents from opening a UK business account. The barrier is practical: banks run strict Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks, every provider has slightly different rules about which documents they accept from overseas applicants, and the regulatory landscape changed significantly in 2025.

The UK introduced mandatory identity verification for all company directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) in November 2025 — a major shift that directly affects how non-resident founders interact with Companies House, and by extension, what you need ready before applying for a business account. This guide covers every document category, what counts as acceptable evidence, what has recently changed, and how Amaiz handles non-resident applications fully online — without a branch visit.

Why Is the UK Attracting So Many Non-Resident Founders Right Now?

According to the Companies House register activities report for FYE 2025, there were 14,574 overseas companies with a UK establishment on the register at the end of March 2025 — a 1.9% increase on the previous year. The three countries with the most overseas-registered companies are the United States (18.7%), the Channel Islands (13.6%), and Ireland (9.1%).

A separate analysis by Tax Policy Associates estimates that around 900,000 UK companies are run entirely by non-UK resident directors. While every company must still have a registered UK address, this figure reflects just how mainstream international entrepreneurship through UK structures has become.

The UK remains one of the fastest and most affordable countries in the world to incorporate a limited company — registration takes 24 hours online, and about £100. A GBP account with a UK sort code then gives you access to domestic clients, UK payment processors, and e-commerce platforms such as Amazon UK, all without physically relocating.

What Has Recently Changed: The 2025–2026 Companies House Reforms

If you incorporated your UK company before November 2025, or are planning to incorporate now, there are new compliance requirements you need to understand — and they affect your banking application directly. For a full breakdown of UK business banking options as an international founder, our dedicated guide covers the broader landscape — but below are the compliance changes every applicant needs to know before starting their account application.

Mandatory identity verification (from 18 November 2025)

Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA), Companies House launched mandatory identity verification on 18 November 2025. This is not a single deadline but the start of a 12-month transition period, with an estimated 6 to 7 million individuals needing to verify by mid-November 2026.

What this means for you:

• New directors and PSCs appointed after 18 November 2025 must complete mandatory identity verification. New directors must provide their Companies House personal code as part of appointment or incorporation. New PSCs must provide their code when added to the register or within 14 days of being added.
• Existing directors must verify their identity before their company’s next confirmation statement is filed. The confirmation statement will not be accepted unless all directors have verified and their personal codes are included.
• Existing PSCs must also comply, but the timing depends on their role. A PSC who is also a director of the same company must provide PSC verification details within 14 days starting the day after the company’s confirmation statement date. A PSC who is not also a director must provide their personal code within the first 14 days of their birth month.
• Non-UK residents are not exempt. Overseas companies with a UK establishment must also ensure their directors complete identity verification.

Verification is done in one of two ways: directly through GOV.UK One Login (free, using a biometric passport or other accepted ID), or via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) — a registered agent authorised by Companies House to verify clients on their behalf. The ACSP route is often more practical for non-UK residents who lack a UK passport or driving licence.

Upon successful verification, Companies House issues a personal 11-digit code. You use this code for all future filings and appointments across any UK entity you are involved in. You only need to verify once.

⚠️ Important: Banks and digital account providers often review the Companies House register before approving an account. If your directors or PSCs have not completed identity verification — or if your company filings contain errors — your account application may be delayed or rejected. Getting your Companies House compliance in order before you apply is no longer optional.

Other recent changes worth knowing

• Registered email address required (from 4 March 2024): every UK company must provide a registered email address to Companies House. It is not displayed on the public register, but Companies House may use it for official communications about the company.
• No PO Box addresses for the registered office (from 4 March 2024): your registered office must be a physical UK address and an “appropriate address”, meaning documents sent there should come to the attention of the company or someone acting for it, and delivery must be capable of being acknowledged. Royal Mail PO Boxes and similar mailbox-only services cannot be used.
• Financial penalties for certain Companies House offences (from 30 September 2024): Companies House introduced a civil financial penalties regime for certain non-compliance, including failure to file a confirmation statement after warning. Where the required filing is made within 28 days of the warning notice, no financial penalty is issued.
• Companies House fee increases (from 1 February 2026): filing fees increased from 1 February 2026. For example, the online incorporation fee is £100 and the online confirmation statement fee is £50, so companies should budget for incorporations and ongoing annual filings accordingly. 

Why KYC and AML Checks Are Stricter for Non-Residents

UK financial institutions operate under the Financial Conduct Authority's AML and KYC framework. Under these rules, every bank and payment institution must verify who you are, where you live, and how your business operates. Non-residents are categorised as higher-risk by default — not because of any wrongdoing, but because verifying identity and address across borders is more complex.

The same framework that drives KYC checks on individuals also drives the AML compliance obligations that affect every cross-border payment your business sends or receives. If your clients or suppliers are based in higher-risk jurisdictions, your account provider may request additional documentation — both at onboarding and on an ongoing basis. Understanding this framework makes the document requirements easier to navigate rather than feel arbitrary.

Traditional high-street banks such as Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest often apply stricter eligibility criteria for non-resident founders, including UK-residency requirements, UK-based business criteria, or additional verification steps. In some cases, this can make onboarding harder for overseas directors, but it is not accurate to say they always require an in-person UK branch visit. Digital business account providers built for remote onboarding, including Amaiz, can complete KYC through online document upload and digital identity checks, subject to their own compliance policies and acceptance criteria.

What Documents Do You Need to Open a UK Business Account as a Non-Resident?

There are five document categories. Every director and PSC named in your company structure will need to provide documentation for Categories 1 and 2. Category 3 relates to the company itself. Category 4 concerns business activity. Category 5 may be required by some — but not all — providers as part of additional due diligence.

Category 1: Proof of identity (each director and PSC/UBO)

Every director and every Person with Significant Control — any individual holding 25% or more of shares, voting rights, or overall influence — must pass identity verification before an account can be opened.

Accepted documents:

• Valid international passport (strongly preferred — most universally accepted)
• National identity card (accepted by most digital providers; check country eligibility)
• Additional immigration status evidence where relevant and accepted by the provider

What to know:

• Your passport must be valid and in date at the time of application.
• Most digital providers — including Amaiz — use biometric or video selfie verification. You upload your document and complete a live facial check online. No physical copies or branch visits required.
• Documents must be clear and legible. Blurred or cropped uploads are the single most common cause of delays.
• If your passport is non-biometric (older passports without the chip symbol), you may need to use the ACSP route for Companies House verification. Check this before you apply.

Category 2: Proof of personal address (each director and PSC/UBO)

This is the document category that causes the most friction for non-resident applicants, because many traditional UK banks insist on a UK residential address. Digital providers who specialise in serving international founders — including Amaiz — accept proof of address from your country of residence.

Accepted documents (typically):

• Utility bill (gas, electricity, water, broadband) — dated within the last 3 months
• Bank statement from a recognised financial institution — dated within the last 3 months
• Tax document or official government-issued correspondence — dated within the last 3 months
• Rental agreement (in some cases, if accompanied by a recent bank statement)
• Municipal or local government bill — dated within the last 3 months.

What to know:

• The document must show your full legal name and your current residential address. PO box addresses are not accepted as proof of personal residence.
• Documents must not be older than three months at the time of submission.
• If your document is not in English, a certified translation may be required. As Amaiz can process documents in 40+ languages for verification, translation is not always necessary, although additional checks or supporting documents may still be requested in some cases.
• A virtual office address or your company's registered office address does not count as proof of your personal residential address. These are two entirely separate requirements.

Category 3: Company registration documents

This category establishes that your UK business is legally incorporated. If you are still at the stage of setting up a UK limited company for the first time, you will need to complete incorporation before any provider can open a business account for you.

Documents required:

• Certificate of Incorporation — issued by Companies House when your company was registered. Confirms your company name, registration number, and date of incorporation.
• Companies House Registration Number (CRN) — your unique eight-digit identifier. Found on your Certificate of Incorporation or via the Companies House public register.
• Registered office address — since March 2024, this must be an appropriate UK address capable of receiving and acknowledging documents — not a PO Box.
• Memorandum and Articles of Association — some providers request this to verify the legal scope of business activities and shareholding structure.
• Confirmation Statement (CS01) — required by some providers, particularly if your company has been active for more than 12 months.

What to know:

• Providers often review the Companies House register as part of their due diligence, so your filings should be accurate and up to date before you apply.
• If your Confirmation Statement is overdue, this may delay onboarding or lead the provider to ask you to update your Companies House record before your application can proceed.

Category 4: Proof of business activity

For companies that have been trading, most providers will ask for evidence that your business is genuine and operating. This is a Know Your Business (KYB) check, layered on top of KYC checks on individuals.

Accepted evidence typically includes:

• Recent invoices or contracts with clients (UK or international)
• A written description of your business: what you sell, who your customers are, how money flows into and out of the account
• Your company website URL
• Supplier agreements or purchase orders
• For e-commerce sellers: a link or screenshot of your active storefront on Amazon, Shopify, or a comparable platform

Newly incorporated companies with no trading history are not automatically disadvantaged when applying with a digital provider. For startup founders, what matters most is clarity — a clear and consistent explanation of how your business operates is often more important than the volume of documents provided.

Category 5: Additional due diligence (where requested)

Some providers may ask for source of funds or source of wealth evidence as part of their AML review, particularly in higher-risk cases or where the expected account activity needs further explanation. This may relate to the individual, the company, or both, depending on the nature of the funds and the provider’s requirements. 

Full Document Checklist

For each director and PSC/UBO:

• Valid passport (or national ID card if accepted by your chosen provider)
• Proof of personal residential address — utility bill, bank statement, or official government document dated within the last 3 months
• Certified translation for non-English documents, if required. As Amaiz can process documents in 40+ languages for verification, translation may not always be necessary, although additional checks may still apply
• Companies House identity verification completed where required for the relevant role and filing timetable (introduced from 18 November 2025 under a phased rollout)
• Source of personal funds / source of wealth evidence, if requested — for example payslips, personal bank statements, sale of assets, dividend statements, or other documents showing how the individual obtained the funds

For the company:

• Certificate of Incorporation from Companies House
• Companies House Registration Number (CRN)
• Registered UK office address (physical address, no PO Box — required since March 2024)
• Registered email address on file with Companies House (required from 4 March 2024 for new companies, and with the next confirmation statement for existing companies)
• Memorandum and Articles of Association (if requested by provider)
• Confirmation Statement / CS01 (if company is 12+ months old)

For business activity (where applicable):

• Sample invoice, contract, or client agreement
• Brief written description of your business model and expected account usage
• Website URL or active platform storefront link
• Source of company funds evidence, if requested — for example invoices, contracts, business bank statements, investment documents, shareholder funding evidence, or proof of trading revenue. This is usually relevant where the provider wants to understand the origin of money expected to move through the account.

Traditional High-Street Banks vs Amaiz: A Practical Comparison

Before you start your application, it is worth understanding why the type of provider you choose matters just as much as the documents themselves. Fees and pricing structures can vary significantly, so it is worth checking the current Amaiz pricing before you apply.

The document checklist is only one part of the process. The type of provider you choose can also shape how easily your application moves forward, especially if you are applying as a non-resident founder. The comparison below shows how traditional high-street banks and Amaiz can differ in practice.

How Amaiz Handles Non-Resident Applications

Amaiz is an FCA-authorised e-money institution built for exactly this type of application. The onboarding process is fully digital, designed to accommodate founders based outside the UK without compromising on compliance. If you are still weighing your options, our guide on choosing the right bank account for your startup covers the broader criteria to consider when comparing providers.

• Identity verification done online. Upload your passport and complete a biometric check via the Amaiz app or web platform. No branch visit, no in-person interview, no travel to the UK.
• Overseas proof of address accepted. Whether you are in Germany, the UAE, the US, Hong Kong, or elsewhere — a utility bill or bank statement from your country of residence dated within the last three months is accepted.
• UK company documents verified against Companies House. Amaiz often review your Certificate of Incorporation and CRN against the live register. No physical certified copies required.
• Multiple currencies from day one. GBP account with UK sort code, EU IBAN for EUR, and USD account capabilities — all in one place.
• Virtual cards available immediately. Non-resident founders running digital businesses can issue virtual business cards the moment their account is verified.

👉Open a uk business account for non-residents

Common Reasons Non-Resident Applications Are Rejected or Delayed

1. Proof of address is not accepted. Banks usually require documents dated within the last three months, and some may also have specific rules on document type and format. Check the notes carefully during the application process to make sure your document meets the provider’s requirements.
2. Name discrepancy across documents. If your passport and your proof of address show slightly different versions of your name, the KYC check will flag it. Use consistent documentation throughout.
3. Non-English documents are not translated. If your document is not in English, a certified translation may be required.
4. Business description is vague. Providers need to understand your activities, customers, and how money will move. Write this clearly before you start.
5. Companies House filings are out of date. If your Confirmation Statement is overdue, or directors have not completed identity verification (mandatory from November 2025), your application will be paused.
6. Registered office does not meet the 2024 rules. PO Box addresses are no longer valid as registered offices since March 2024. Update before applying if this applies to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a UK address to open a UK business account as a non-resident?

Your UK company needs a registered office address in the UK — since March 2024, this must be a physical address capable of receiving documents, not a PO Box. It can be a service provider’s address, provided it meets the appropriate-address rules. For your personal director address, Amaiz and most digital providers accept proof of address from your home country.

Do all directors and PSCs need to submit documents?

Yes. Every director and every PSC holding 25% or more of the company must complete identity and address verification. Under the Companies House rules from November 2025, all directors and PSCs must also complete formal identity verification with Companies House or an ACSP — this is a legal requirement.

What if my documents are not in English?

If your document is not in English, a certified translation may be required. Amaiz can process documents in 40+ languages for verification, so translation is not always necessary. However, depending on the document, the issuing country, and the outcome of the checks, additional supporting documents or a translation may still be requested. Some providers may also require notarisation in certain cases.

Can I open an account before my UK company is fully incorporated?

No. You need a live Companies House registration number and Certificate of Incorporation before any UK business account provider can open an account for you. UK company formation typically takes 24 hours online through a registered formation agent.

What is an ACSP and do I need one?

An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) is an agent registered with and authorised by Companies House to verify identities and file documents on behalf of clients. Non-UK residents who cannot use GOV.UK One Login — typically because they lack a UK biometric passport or driving licence — should use an ACSP to complete their Companies House identity verification. 

How long does the application take with Amaiz?

For straightforward applications where all documents are in order, Amaiz's digital onboarding is designed to be completed within a few business days. Having all documents ready and your Companies House compliance up to date before you start is the single biggest factor in reducing time to account opening.

👉Open business current account​→

Key Sources and Further Reading

• Companies House: Verify your identity
• Companies House: Register activities FYE 2025
• Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act — changes at a glance
• FCA: Anti-money laundering regulations
• Companies House: Find and update company information
• Tax Policy Associates: Foreign director analysis

Amaiz Ltd (No. 900857) is an e-money institution authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under the UK Electronic Money Regulations 2011, and is a registered agent of PrePay Technologies Limited (No. 900010). This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal, financial, or regulatory advice. Requirements may vary by provider and are subject to change. Always check directly with your chosen account provider and with Companies House for the most current filing requirements.